LAWPUBL 401 : Administrative Law

Law

2022 Semester Two (1225) (20 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A study of the general principles of judicial review of administrative action, including the ultra vires principle, the substantive and procedural restraints on the exercise of public power, and the remedies available for breach of these principles.

Course Overview

This course is devoted to the study of Administrative Law.  The focus is on judicial review of administrative action, but this is set in the context of broader Administrative Law.

The course will:
1. Reinforce your understanding of the basic features of Judicial Review studied in the Public Law course.
2. Cover the availability of Judicial Review, the grounds and the remedies in much greater detail than in the Part II Public Law course.
3.  Introduce the theoretical, normative and political underpinnings of Judicial Review, and invite you to critically engage with the current debates about the availability and scope of Judicial Review.
4.  Give you an awareness of Administrative Law as a wider set of standards, a broader range of avenues of redress, and a field of study involving a range of different perspectives.

Draft schedule of lecture topics:

INTRODUCTION
L1–2    Case study and Overview. What is Administrative Law? How does Judicial Review fit in? Theoretical underpinnings.

JUDICIAL REVIEW – MAIN FEATURES
AVAILABILITY OF REVIEW
L3–5    Reviewability: justiciability; public nature; the statutory procedure
TRADITIONAL PROCEDURAL GROUNDS OF REVIEW
L6–8    Right to a hearing
L9    Rule against bias; Right to reasons?
TRADITIONAL SUBSTANTIVE GROUNDS OF REVIEW
Illegality
L10    Delegation, dictation and fettering
L11–12 Improper purpose / irrelevant considerations & mandatory considerations
Irrationality
L12     Traditional Wednesbury unreasonableness
REMEDIES
L13    Nature of remedies; Discretion as to remedies;
Theories as to the consequences of invalidity;
Particular issues: collateral challenges; curing unfairness

WIDER ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES & NON-JUDICIAL AVENUES
L14–15 Administrative Justice; Alternative Avenues (Parliament; Ombudsman; Tribunals and other complaints procedures, internal and external)

JUDICIAL REVIEW – EXPANSION & LIMITS
SCOPE AND INTENSITY OF REVIEW FOR ERROR OF LAW: ISSUES
L16    Demise of the jurisdictional doctrine and drawing the line
L17    Ouster clauses and Alternative Approaches

MODERN EXTENSIONS OF SUBSTANTIVE GROUNDS
L18–20 Judicial review and rights: international law, common law, Bill of Rights
L21    Beyond rights: varying intensity review & proportionality
L22    Substantive legitimate expectations
L23    Mistake of fact

L24    FINAL OVERVIEW AND EVALUATION

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: LAW 201, 211, 231, 241 Restriction: LAW 402, 440, LAWPUBL 426

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate understanding of the law of Judicial Review (its availability, the grounds and the remedies) by applying it to analyse and solve hypothetical problems. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1 and 5.2)
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical, normative and political underpinnings of Judicial Review (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.3, 5.1, 5.2, 6.2 and 6.3)
  3. Critically engage with the current debates about the availability and scope of Judicial Review (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  4. Demonstrate awareness and understanding of Administrative Law as a wider set of standards, a broader range of avenues of redress, and a field of study involving a range of different perspectives. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.2 and 6.3)
  5. Demonstrate ability to read and analyse a range of legal materials (cases, and also articles and legislation), so as to comprehend relevant themes, principles and doctrines (Capability 1.2 and 5.2)
  6. Communicate principles, concepts and arguments both orally and in writing (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Short opinion 30% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 45% Individual Examination
Essay 25% Individual Coursework
Early feedback by in-class Kahoot test Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Short opinion
Final Exam
Essay
Early feedback by in-class Kahoot test

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 20-point course. There will be around 48 hours of lectures in this course. As a general guide, you should expect a workload of three hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class.  That includes the time for writing your assignments and for exam revision as well as time preparing for class.  The guideline for the total workload for this course is 200 hours.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Lectures will be available as recordings. However, attendance is strongly encouraged, and there will be opportunities for participation and for asking questions.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The required course readings will be listed in the Canvas reading list, and most will be available to access through that list.
The course has no prescribed textbook, but you may wish to refer to textbooks to improve and broaden your understanding.  We will most often refer you to the following three texts (available in the library):
Paul Craig, Administrative Law (8th ed, 2016)
Peter Cane, Administrative Law (5th ed, 2011)
Mark Elliott & Jason Varuhas, Administrative Law: Text & Materials (5th ed, 2017)
A selection of further textbooks available in the library will also be recommended for further reference.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 28/10/2021 12:58 p.m.